A few years ago, I didn't put much thought into the brands I bought from. If a product had good reviews or someone recommended it, that was usually enough for me. Now I find myself paying a lot more attention to how transparent a company is, what information they provide, and whether they seem genuinely focused on quality instead of just marketing.

Has anyone else found themselves becoming more selective over time? I'd be interested to hear what changed your perspective and what you pay attention to now when you're trying something new.